Hemorrhagic Pericarditis in a child with primary varicella infection (chickenpox)

• Main Authors: Nandeesh B (Author), Mahadevan Anita (Author), Yasha T (Author), Shankar S (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2009-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 0377-4929
• Keywords: Chicken pox; deep vein thrombosis; hemorrhagic pericarditis; septic infarction; Pathology; RB1-214; Microbiology; QR1-502
• Source: Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology, Vol 52, Iss 2, Pp 237-239 (2009)

Chickenpox (Varicella) representing the primary infection by Varicella zoster virus is a common benign and self-limited infectious disease of childhood. Although the disease can be associated with complications, they are generally mild and tend to occur in adults and immunocompromised children. Severe and life-threatening complications are extremely rare, particularly those involving the cardiovascular system. We report a malnourished 5-year-old girl with chicken pox complicated by hemorrhagic pericarditis and deep vein thrombosis leading to fatal pulmonary thromboembolism. Though varicella infection runs a benign self-limiting course, it continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality when associated with complications, particularly in malnourished children. Hence, the importance of vaccination and early recognition of complications is emphasized.